The EC United Synergy U13 players, front row from left, are Paulina Carmona, Hannah Simmons, Brianna Bridges, Rebecca Fachner and Emily Paolini; back row: Coach Ross Ortega, Ashley Martin, Olivia Rothrauff, Chrissy Trujillo, Jasmine Partida, Vicky Solis, Gabby Ortega and Manager Dan Fachner.
Which is the perfect summation of a sport like soccer that is played on such a vast field that one player alone (save for the goalie) usually can make minimal impact. Players must work together to move the ball downfield to set up a scoring opportunity.
So it’s not a big surprise that a girls competitive soccer team called U13 EC United Synergy, comprised of 12 players from Antioch, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Oakley and Pittsburg, worked so well together this season that they recently won the indoor soccer championship at Cabernet Sports in Livermore.
“They were extremely happy,” said Dan Fachner, who coaches the team along with Ross Ortega. “They have come close in some tournaments. They were ecstatic because they ended up beating some good teams to win the championship. The Tracy Crush is a good team. So our girls are very happy. They had a long season.”
The season began in November and lasted 10 games in which the Synergy won five, lost three and settled for two ties. Many of the girls also played in the previous outdoor season that began last March. So it’s taken miles of running up and down a soccer field kicking, heading and body-bumping the ball to get to the championship game. And that game was no free kick by any means. The Crush fields some of the best players from several teams in the Tracy area.
Fachner’s daughter Rebecca scored the game’s first goal in the first 10 minutes. But the Crush came back with two scores in the next six minutes to go up 2-1. Synergy’s Ashley Martin tied it up right before the half. Then the Crush took the lead again five minutes into the second half. A few minutes later, though, Synergy’s Jasmine Partida tied it again. The teams fought furiously until, with about seven minutes left, Synergy’s Gabby Ortega put it away.
“The girls had to fight,” said Fachner. “There was a lot of shots on goal. Our keeper, Brianna Bridges, did an outstanding job. She blocked a lot of balls for us and we held on to win the championship.”
Playing on a competitive team like Synergy is almost vital if a young player hopes to excel in high school soccer, according to Fachner. The team is now gearing up for its outdoor season, which starts next month, and is looking for more players. Registration costs $280 and uniforms $140. For more information, call Fachner at 925-642-8574.
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